Apaturina is part of a small cohort of animal genera that have only one described species. The taxonomic lingo for this state of affairs is the word 'monotypic' - one type. The Turquoise Emperor, like its 'admiral' relatives, is built for speed. The only 'easy' time to photograph one is when they are distracted whilst feeding on mineral seepages, rotting fruit, oozing sap, fresh urine or dung. A. e. papuana and A. e. antonia are represented on the New Guinea mainland. Otherwise the species extends from the Moluccan in eastern Indonesia to the Solomon Islands and the tip of Cape York Australia

Cethosia is a genus composed of 14 described species ranging from India, Thailand, southern China to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and northern Australia. Most of these species have many subspecies. These eye-catching male Eastern Red Lacewings, one at rest and the other basking, eye each other off on a territorial border. The subspecies C. (C.) damasippe and C. (C.) cenchrites occur on the New Guinea mainland

Cethosia is a genus composed of 14 described species ranging from India, Thailand, southern China to the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and northern Australia. Most species have many subspecies. These eye-catching male Eastern Red Lacewings, one at rest and the other basking, eye each other off on a territorial border. The subspecies C. (C.) damasippe and C. (C.) cenchrites occur on the New Guinea mainland

As much as I would like to have photographed the powerful flying adult of this species using a rotting fruit bait I was perhaps too early for their local emergence based on the presence of the chrysalis. Charaxes jupiter extends throughout mainland New Guinea and some associated islands

As much as I would like to have photographed the powerful flying adult of this species using a rotting fruit bait I was perhaps too early for their local emergence based on the presence of the chrysalis. Charaxes jupiter extends throughout mainland New Guinea and some associated islands

As much as I would like to have photographed the powerful flying adult of this species using a rotting fruit bait I was perhaps too early for their local emergence based on the presence of the chrysalis. Charaxes jupiter extends throughout mainland New Guinea and some associated islands

Tailed Emperors are arguably are one of the most powerful of fliers, often flashing through gardens in seconds. Seemingly to celebrate their mastery of the skies males tend to use higher perches, like sun-dappled trunks, than most butterflies (3 metres or higher) where they face downwards alternately twitching their hindwings in anticipation of a fine female passerby, or to give chase to an invading male. Thankfully their caterpillars are far less challenging subjects. Charaxes sempronius extends from the Molucca and Lesser Sunda Islands of eastern Indonesia to New Guinea and northern and eastern Australia

Tailed Emperors are arguably are one of the most powerful of fliers, often flashing through gardens in seconds. Seemingly to celebrate their mastery of the skies males tend to use higher perches, like sun-dappled trunks, than most butterflies (3 metres or higher) where they face downwards alternately twitching their hindwings in anticipation of a fine female passerby, or to give chase to an invading male. Charaxes sempronius extends from the Molucca and Lesser Sunda Islands of eastern Indonesia to New Guinea and northern and eastern Australia

The intricately patterned Mapwings are a small genus of 21 species centred in South east Asia. This is the most eastern, New Guinea-based, species which used to have a subspecies (Cyrestis achates whitmei) present on the Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia in the western Pacific. This subspecies in now elevated to a full species C. whitmei. This bold New Guinea Mapwing sips salty sweat from the rim of my wife Fleur's hat

One of the distinctive features of the Mapwing genus, aside from the intricate pattern, are the longer than average labial palps positioned between the eyes and antennae. The intricately patterned Mapwings are a small genus of 21 species centred in South east Asia. This is the most eastern, New Guinea-based, species which used to have a subspecies (Cyrestis achates whitmei) present on the Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia in the western Pacific. This subspecies in now elevated to a full species C. whitmei

One of the distinctive features of the Mapwing genus, aside from the intricate pattern, are the longer than average labial palps positioned between the eyes and antennae. The intricately patterned Mapwings are a small genus of 21 species centred in South east Asia. This is the most eastern, New Guinea-based, species which used to have a subspecies (Cyrestis achates whitmei) present on the Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia in the western Pacific. This subspecies in now elevated to a full species C. whitmei. Mapwing caterpillars have an atypical filament combination; head 2 (common); forebody 1(uncommon); tail 1 (typical for hawkmoth caterpillars). A tiny jumping spider rides 'point' above the eyes

Male Lesser Wanderers bear special scent producing hindwing scales reversing the typical female trend for perfume production. In the tropics they tend to stick to drier habitats though may be encountered in the rainforest/savannah ecotone. Lesser Wanderers have the largest range of any naturally occurring Australian species extending from Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia to New Guinea and some south Pacific Islands

Dead leaves, whether freshly whole or old and fragmented, form the dominant ground cover in heavily vegetated habitats across the globe. Butterflies, and moths even more so, have exploited this background in tens of thousands of species level camouflage themes. A minority of butterflies, like the Leafwing, have employed the freshly dropped dying or dead 'whole of leaf' camouflage theme on their underwings. The standard leaf shape is adopted in combination with the central vein to complete the predator deception. Leafwings also add a temporal component to their theme by copying the green chlorophyll content at the major leaf fall event verses a more brown version in later emerging generations. The Leafwing is the most widely distributed of the 'leaf' butterflies ranging from India, Thailand, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, to Australia and the islands of the south Pacific. The New Guinea subspecies D. b. orthagoria has a similar ventral pattern though this may vary between individuals of any subspecies

Dead leaves, whether freshly whole or old and fragmented, form the dominant ground cover in heavily vegetated habitats across the globe. Butterflies, and moths even more so, have exploited this background in tens of thousands of species level camouflage themes. A minority of butterflies, like the Leafwing, have employed the freshly dropped dying or dead 'whole of leaf' camouflage theme on their underwings. The standard leaf shape is adopted in combination with the central vein to complete the predator deception. Leafwings also add a temporal component to their theme by copying the green chlorophyll content at the major leaf fall event verses a more brown version in later emerging generations. The Leafwing is the most widely distributed of the 'leaf' butterflies ranging from India, Thailand, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, to Australia and the islands of the south Pacific. The New Guinea subspecies D. b. orthagoria has a similar ventral pattern though this may vary between individuals of any subspecies

Crow butterflies, indeed many butterflies in the subfamily Danainae, are known for the longevity of their adults. In the case of this successful and widespread crow species adults have been recorded to live for around five months. Providing high sugar content nectar is available to ensure a long adult life then migration becomes possible, even across nectarless bodies of salt water. Common Crow caterpillars will happily eat the introduced highly poisonous oleander shrub in tropical and subtropical gardens from Nepal, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia to New Guinea Australia and the south Pacific Islands

Darwin Brown Crows may be locally common in coastal monsoon vine thickets penetrating inland via gallery forest lining waterways. The subspecies Euploea darchia niveata with a broad white hindwing margin occurs in Queensland. Other subspecies are named from various Islands in the Banda sea south east of New Guinea though many of these populations, described in the late 1800's and early 1900's, need to be reviewed using modern techniques

The so-called Crows could be described as the leisurely flying arm of the large Family Nymphalidae. Perhaps their lazy flying style is a result of the confidence that they have in their inherent distastefulness. The Plain Blue Crow is represented by many subspecies ranging from India, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea to Australia and the South Pacific Islands.The New Guinea subspecies E. m.lugens has a similar dorsal pattern though more muted blue and fewer and smaller spots.

When I first noticed this unidentified caterpillar my eyes were drawn immediately to the five tendrils. They could be twitched and may possibly serve to deflect a hovering parasitoid (as opposed to parasitic) female wasp attempting to lay eggs. A parasite depends on its host to fulfil for one or more requirements of their lifecycle, while a parasitoid depends entirely on the host for all the activities to maintain its life. It looks like the front pair of tendrils could deflect a wasp from the head end of the body, whereas the second pair and 'tail' tendril could protect the rear of the body. This 'hypothesis' is yet to be confirmed

Blue-banded Eggfly males are highly territorial chasing all manner of flying animals passing through their territories, even large dragonflies and small birds. Just to make things interesting the females of both Australian subspecies are 'polymorphic' (I prefer polychromatic) trending towards a brown form and a dark form where all blue scales are lost. The polychromatic phenomenon is common in this genus. Hypolimnas alimena lamina occurs on the east coast of Australia. H. a. libisonia and H. a. eremita occur on mainland New Guinea

There are few butterflies that occur on Madagascar and Saudi Arabia as well as in Australasia and the south Pacific Islands. The males are consistent in their four purple-edged white blotches against a black background whereas females have the remarkable ability, at least in the eastern part of their range, to mimic or not to mimic poisonous butterflies they share habitats with. It is a mystery as to what determines this feminine choice. Maybe the density of available models (usually Crows) might be the clincher??? Both H. b. bolina and H. b. nerina occur on the New Guinea mainland

There are few butterflies that occur on Madagascar and Saudi Arabia as well as in Australasia and the south Pacific Islands. The males are consistent in their four purple-edged white blotches against a black background whereas females have the remarkable ability, at least in the eastern part of their range, to mimic or not to mimic poisonous butterflies they share habitats with. It is a mystery as to what determines this feminine choice. Maybe the density of available models (usually Crows) might be the clincher???

Blue Argus females have much larger eyespots and less blue on the hindwings than males. They are notoriously wary. When they land it is often on the ground and they appear to disappear such is the effectiveness of the camouflage colour and pattern on the underwings. If not too hot they will 'sit' for an extended period. Males tend to perch more often at suitable spots within their territories. In the tropics they tend to stick to drier habitats though they may be encountered in the rainforest/savannah ecotone. The New Guinea subspecies is known as Junonia orythya novaeguineae

Unfortunately this wary butterfly had to be netted as it drove me crazy by allowing me to get close enough for a photo then flit off to a nearby fern just as I was about to press the shutter. The species is endemic to New Guinea

The Clipper tends to favour sunny patchs in forest clearings, margins, roadways, railways and riversides. Their flight is distinctive; swift with a shallow flap punctuated by bouts of gliding. Both sexes are similarly patterned though both sexes are subject to moderate variation with many described subspecies throughout their large distribution.This handsome jerky glider ranges from India, Thailand, China, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to New Guinea and some south Pacific islands. New Guinea has three subspecies that tend to be browner dorsally

The Blue Wanderer is aptly named as it occupies a quarter of the globe in both hemispheres. It does prefer the equatorial tropics though it can tolerate higher latitudes and even gallery forest penetrating into the deserts of Saudi Arabia. During the dry seasons of both hemispheres they are known to congregate in creek beds and gullies in large numbers. This male Blue Tiger prepares to roost along with hundreds of others in a near-coastal swamp. The species extends from Indonesia to New Guinea and some south Pacific Islands as far east as Fiji. Tirumala hamata subnubila and Tirumala hamata pallidula occur on the New Guinea mainland

Cruisers are a sexually dichromatic species with twist - usually the male has the brighter, more complex patterns in most butterflies. In this case it is the female that exhibits the more pleasing outlook, at least to the human observer. A male Cruiser awaits unmated females alongside a rainforest creek that serves as a flyway for local flying animals. The Cruiser ranges from the Moluccas to New Guinea, Australia and the Solomon Islands. V. a. rebeli is the subspecies represented on mainland New Guinea